Clinical Curriculum

Overview

The Emergency Medicine residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is a four year PGY1-4 program. There are 15 residents per class.

PGY 1

The PGY 1 year serves as the intern year of the residency program. The purpose of the intern year is to obtain a broad-based training in areas essential to the practice of Emergency Medicine. These areas include Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Cardiology, General Medicine, Neurology, Orthopedics, Obstetrics, and Anesthesia. In addition, the PGY 1 year includes an introduction to adult and pediatric Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

PGY 2

The PGY 2 year focuses on transitioning from the inpatient setting to the Emergency Department. The second year begins with a 14 day orientation in preparation for residency. This includes courses in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS), physician base station course, ultrasound course, disaster management preparedness, airway and procedure labs, and several didactic sessions on Emergency Medicine administration and leadership. PGY 2 residents spend the majority of their training at the Harbor-UCLA ED learning how to manage acutely ill medical and trauma patients in a busy, County ED setting. In addition, PGY 2 residents are introduced to the practice of community Emergency Medicine while rotating at an affiliated community hospital. Residents spend this year developing a strong base of knowledge in Emergency Medicine. They also assume a teaching role while working with interns and medical students.

PGY 3 and PGY 4

The PGY 3 and PGY 4 years focuse on developing leadership skills in managing the Emergency Department, while also solidifying and enhancing patient care. Senior residents are actively involved in teaching medical students, interns, and junior residents as well as serving as liaisons between the ED and the consultant services. PGY 3 and PGY 4 residents rotate in the Emergency Department of two community hospitals to gain exposure to rapid patient turnover, managed care issues, cost effectiveness, and working with primary care physicians. Approximately 4 weeks of elective time is built into these years along with 10 weeks of selective time in which residents may explore the subfields of Emergency Medicine in more depth. This may include Global Health, Pediatrics, EMS, Education, Administration, Ultrasound, Research, Quality or Process Improvement, or a host of other clinical opportunities. In addition, all of the senior residents attend the American College of Emergency Physicians' Scientific Assembly or the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting.